Probably not...you might consider a bed of heavy river rock....

The idea behind them is that when they are stepped on, they break off and those broken pieces form new plants...if those pieces are not able to establish...your ground will be bare again...

If you place a low growing plants under the birdfeeder you will have the seeds not eaten sprouting up through you steppables. Somewhat unsightly. Sturdy grasses help on my feeders. The animals can go about the grasses with out harming them. Also if the grasses get to tall they can by trimmed. This works for me. Plus unwanted sunflowers are easily pulled or left. Other seeds that have sprouted are easily controlled.
Just a thought to take into consideration.

Watch out, if they're under a tree the area is probably deep shade. Look on the labels for sun requirements. My biggest fault is pushing the limit on full sun/part sun/part shade recommendations.

I didn't think of a birdfeeder under a tree when I recommended the grass. My feeder is on a seperate poll and the grass is under that.

It's an easy clean up when the grasses get cut down we rake up the old seed to clean it up and in the spring before they emerge.

Thanks to all for your thoughts...I've had my feeder on a pole in a part of the yard where I had perennials planted around it - bad idea. The sunflower seeds never sprouted there, probably because nothing grew there with all the "traffic" from the groundfeeders and squirrels and chipmunks. I moved it to another part of the yard where it's more shady, but there is ivy groundcover pretty thick under where I've moved it, so that might be hardy enough to survive, and if it doesn't, at least it's in a part of the yard where I don't mind the mess so much and wouldn't even mind it so much if there was nothing growing there. I don't think it gets enough sun for grasses to work. I do really enjoy watching all the birds, so I'm hoping to find a spot where we can "peacefully coexist"!

Thanks again for your help! Happy Spring to all of you!

One thing with Steppables is they are all very short, so people don't trip. I'd try pachysandra or even just plan old hosta lancifolia.

Ted